Corporation Commission chair proposes office drug search

Gary Pierce

Gary Pierce, chairman of the Arizona Corporation Commission, explains his plan Tuesday to have offices swept for drugs after a small quantity of marijuana was found in a private bathroom last week. (Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer)

Corporation Commission

Corporation Commission Chairman Gary Pierce, right, explains his proposal Tuesday to have private offices of the five members swept for drugs by dogs after a small amount of marijuana was found last week in a private bathroom accessible only to commissioners and their staffs. Looking on are Paul Newman and Brenda Burns. (Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer)

Paul Newman

Paul Newman, a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, confers Tuesday with aide Nancy LaPlaca. Newman was one of two commissioners who refused to go along with the proposal by Chairman Gary Pierce to let their personal offices be swept for drugs by specially trained dogs. (Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer)

Arizona Corporation Commission

This is the newspaper storage cart in the private bathroom at the offices of the Arizona Corporation Commission where a worker said she found a small quantity of marijuana last week. The finding led Gary Pierce, the chairman, to ask for consent to search each of the commissioner's private offices. (Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer)